Obama commends Modi's leadership on reaching WTO agreement

Washington: US President Barack Obama has commended the "personal leadership" role provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in finding a path forward on WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) reached between the two countries, a presidential spokesperson said.

"The President had extensive discussions with Prime Minister Modi on this issue and appreciates his personal leadership in finding a path forward," the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement after India and US announced that the two countries have reached an agreement on TFA.

In Myanmar, where Obama met briefly the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Nay Pyi Taw described Modi as a man of action.

In a statement, Earnest said the important breakthrough reached between the United States and India will unlock progress toward the full and immediate implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, which will lower the costs of trade for developed and developing countries alike.

"This breakthrough will also strengthen the multilateral trading system and give a boost to its ongoing work, including in the area of food security," he said.

"Combined with the recent announcement of a breakthrough on the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and the agreement among Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Leaders that the end of those landmark negotiations is coming into focus, this has been a good week for expanding opportunities for American businesses and workers and for promoting growth around the globe," Earnest said.